The Good Life w/ Mike Petrone | Fixie Fun!

From surfing to skating, hiking to camping, there are so many activities in the city of San Diego that bring people outdoors and into an active lifestyle, but who would have thought that trendy “hipster” cycling would be one? From Urban Outfitters selling the bikes to the depiction of a bike messengers whipping in and out of yellow taxi cabs on a busy NYC street, “fixies” or fixed gears are becoming more of a popular trend for both fitness enthusiasts and “hipsters” alike.

This subculture of cycling is more than just a trendy way to stay fit. It has the thrill, danger and edgy factor yet it is sleek and simple and comes with a bond for all fixie cyclists. Fashionably it is “in” but this subculture is a way of life for its riders. One of these riders, Andrea of San Diego, showed me the ins & outs of her fixed gear and explained this subculture sport & why it is more than just a hipster trend!

As a fixie enthusiast, explain to our readers what a “fixie” is? A fixie or fixed gear bike is a bicycle that does not have a free wheel drive train. In other words you can’t coast, you’re continuously pedaling because the cog and chain are directly attached so if you pedal forward the bike will go forward and if you pedal backwards the bike will move backwards.

So how long have you been riding fixies? I’ve been riding for a few years now.

What kind of fixed gear are you riding? I’m currently riding a 55cm chromoly welded State Bicycle Co fixie.

What was the defining factor that made you say forget “coasting” im riding fixie? The initial challenge, the insane leg work out when pedaling up dreaded hills, and the simplicity factors that make a fixie what is which is a simple and basic bike. Most fixies are lightweight and ride according to your strength, power and control when it comes to maneuvering the bike.

Fixie riding is becoming more and more popular in mainstream media with movies like “Premium Rush”. What makes fixie riding such a growing sub-culture in the bike world? When kids or young adults see Youtube clips or movies of advanced riders ripping through streets, flying down hills, or doing tricks it draws in that edgy factor just like skateboarding did when it hit scene. Not to mention some most fixies look pretty awesome and most of the time you can tell they’re a different bike from the average given the stripped down yet in some cases exotic look of most fixed gear bikes.

Riding Fixed Gears is definitely a blossoming hobby/sport. Do you see fixed gear bikes becoming saturated into mainstream culture and the sport becoming overly trendy or do you think it will always have a strong place in the underground sub-culture? Fixies which are also known as track bikes have been around for ages. Urban riding outside of the track is gaining popularity. I don’t look at it as being a trend. Riding fixed can be a workout; I’ve become more physically fit because of it. If more people are getting off of their couches and detaching themselves from things that are deterrents of good health and out riding “trendy” fixie bikes instead, it’s a winning situation in my eyes.

Do you feel a sense of connection with other fixie riders? What makes this sport such middle ground for cyclists to come together and bond? Definitely, there’s a sense of camaraderie with most riders here in San Diego. We have quite a few bike clubs and crews here that not only ride together but participate in other events around town. I do feel a connection with other riders when I’m out biking either it being through a wave or a nod as we’re crossing paths or a quick convo. It’s pretty easy to find middle ground or conversation starters with other cyclists because most of us who cycle love to ride and love our bikes.

With some fixed gear riders riding without any brakes, what are some of the dangers that come with riding fixies? Any close calls? There are a lot dangers just like with any bike on the roadway however riding without brakes as some riders do makes the odds for accidents more likely than not if you’re not an advanced fixed cyclist. If cyclists are not yielding to traffic or stop signs and motorists are not watching for bikers or driving with the safety of others in mind the road can be a dangerous place. I’ve had a few close calls thankfully I have not been hurt badly in any of the incidents I’ve had on the road while biking.

Where do you see the Fixie Trend riding off to in the next few years? I hope it becomes more popular and more people start riding. That way we can have a bigger voice in our cities and move towards making our streets and roadways more bike friendly.